Match-box



F. KRISTOFEK.

MATCH BOX..

APPLICATION msu mw 2, 1911.

1,341,139. Patnted May 25,1920.

F. 1. KRISTOFEK.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1917- 1,341,139. Patented May 25,1 920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK, or sr. PAUL, MINNESOTA, xssrcnon r0 BROWN &IBIGELOW,

or ST. PAUL, mmnnsora, A CORPORATION or MINNESOTA.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Applicatitn filed May 2, 1917. Serial No. 166,057.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. Karsrornx, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Match-Boxes, of which thefollowing is a s ecification.

This invention re ates to match boxes and is particularly adapted to aclass of vest pocket or small match boxes which are used to carrymatches put up in small packages with a paper cover and the match stickportion being made in some instances of: pressed paper in place of wood.The matches are of a safety type and the paper container carrying thescratching surface for lighting matches on the outer lower front surfaceof the container.

The primary object is in providing a match box having the usualcompactness and containing a compartment which can be used for an ashtray.

It is also an object to provide holding means for a cigar or cigarettewhen the match box is open and at the same time catch any ashes whichmay drop from the means for separating the match c0mpartment of the boxfrom the ash tray compartment so that if it is desired to close the boxwith the ashes therein, the ashes will not become mixed with the matchesor enter the match compartment.

It is an object in having the means for separating the ash compartmentand match compartment serve the purpose of a spring to open the box whenthe catch is released and also to follow with the cover as the box isopened, leaving the match compartment openand allowing easy access tothe matches as in the ordinary pocket match box.

These features together with other advantages of construction will bemore clearly.

clearly illustrate the use and advanta e of the ash tray. 5

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the match box in closedposition.

Fig. 4 is a similar cross section to Fig. 3 showing the box in partiallyopened position.

Fig. 5 illustrates an end view of the match box n partially openedposition.

1 1g. 6 1s an enlarged transverse cross section of the box in partiallyopen position and a portion of which is broken away.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8S of Fig. 6.

Fig.9 is a cross section on the line 9 Fig. 6.

Fig. .10 is a cross section on the line l0-10 of Fig. 6.

In the drawing, A represents a match box h avmg a hinged cover B and abody portion (J. The cover B and portion C beinghinged together by meansof the hinge 1, and the portions B and C of substantially the same formand construction so that the cover forms the upper half of the box A andthe body portion-G the lowerhali.

The body portion C is adapted to receive a series or package of matchesD bound together in the usual manner in the paper retainer it. The lowerportion of the retainer E being inserted under the flanges 2 formed oneither side of the portion C and bent inwardly so as to lie in a planewith the upper edge of the lower portion C. a

The flanges 2 are formed with upwardly curved cars 3, whichallow theeasy insertion of the package E under the flanges 2. hen the package Ewith the series of matches 1) is inserted into the portion C of the boxA, under the flanges 2, it is securely and conveniently held in the boxA and will not easily come out of the same. The front flap or cover ofthe paper container E can be torn ofi' at a if it is desired, to leavethe matches exposed when the box is opened.

The portions 13 and U are held in closed position by the spring catch Fwhich is of ordinary construction by engaging the flange 6 formed on thecover B. The spring catch F being operated by the usual form ofdepressing tongue such as 5. The spring catch F is held in position inthe box A by means of the tongue 5 and stops 7 with projecting fingers8. The fingers 8 projecting under the flanges 2 and lying closely to theside walls of the lower portion C. The lower portion C is formed withears 9 which encircle the pintle 10 of the hinge 1 and are freely heldto move or pivot on the pintle '10.

The cover or upper portion B of the box A is held to the pintle 10 ofthe hinge 1 by the cars 11 which encircle the pintle 10 and are adaptedto engage the pintle with suflicient gripping pressure so as to rotatewith-the pintle when the cover is opened, rotating thepintle freely inthe ears 9 of the lower portion 0.

A partition ordivision wall G is rigidly secured to the pintle 10 bymeans of a wide engagingear '12 which is centrally disposed between theends of the pintle 10 and lying between one of the ears 11 of the coverB and'the ear 9 of the lower portion O. The partition G is formed withcurved ends 123 and 1 1. The-end 13 carrying the pintle engaging ear 12and the end 14: having a recess 15 formed therein which is adapted toprevent contact with the spring catch F and the flange 6. Theend 14; iscut away at 16 011 either side of the opening 15 to form projectinglugsor feet 17. The feet 17 are adapted to engage the upper edge 18 of thespring catch F so that when the box is closed the feet 17 will engagethe portions 18 of the spring catch F and prevent the free end 1st ofthe division wall G from dropping or projecting under the walls or edge18 of the catch F thereby preventing the easy opening of the springcatch F. 11' the edge 14 or teet17 should project under Y the springcatch F, it would not allow the spring catch to have the usualresiliency and 'wouldthereby interfere with the open ingot the box. Thefree end of the partition might also become impinged in thelower'portion C so that it would not open with the cover B of the box A.

' Depressions'20 are formed in the partition wallG so as to formprojecting lugs on the partition G when it is in the positionillustrated in Fig. 2, which are adapted to hold the cigar or'cigaretteand allow the ashes to fall intothe ash tray formed by the cover B ofthe looxA. The lugs or depressions 2O preventingthe cigar from rollingoff of the division or partition wall G and forming a convenient holdingmeans for the same.

Whenthe'box is closed, the lugs 20 lying nearestthe hinge 1 are adaptedto impinge against the inner wall of the cover B first, in closing thebox A and as the box is closed, the feet 17 will engage on the portions18 and press or spring the partition G into the position illustrated inFig. 3 with all the lu s 20 engagingthe cover B. The partition% is ofresilient or spring material so that when the catch F is operated, the

partition G will act as a spring to force the cover open as isillustrated in Fig. 1. The box is then opened as is illustrated in Fig.1 by engaging the cover B and rotating it on the hinge 1. As the cover Bis rotated, the partition wall G will follow with the cover beingpartially contained in the same, due to the fact that the cars 11 of thecover B engage the pintle 1O enough to rotate the same and the car 12 ofthe partition (1 being rigidly securedto the pintle 10. Thisconstruction allowing the box A to be opened conveniently without alwayshaving to have the partition G in the way of; obtaining matches from thematch box A. It is an 1111- portant feature to have the partition Galways follow with the cover B when the box is opened.

The hinge 1 is of a peculiar construction, the pintle 10 of which isrigidly secured to the ear 12 of the partition or division wall G andthe ear 12 is preferably positioned centrally between the endsotthepintle 11) having one ofthe cars 11 of the cover positioned 011 one sideof theear 12 and one of the ears 9 of the body portion of the boxpositioned onthe other side of the ear 12. while the ends of the pintleare engaged by one of the ears 9 and one of the ears 11. The pair ofears 11 which are formed integral with the cover B are adapted to grip aportion of the pintle 10 of the hinge 1 under spring tension, while thepair of ears 9 which are formed integral with the body portion 0 of thebox A loosely or freely encircle a portion'of thepintle 10, asillustrated in Figs. 7, 9 and 10, and the car 12 of the partition wall Gis rigidly fixed centrally between the ends of the pintle 10 en gaging aconsiderable surface of'the same. This peculiar construction of thehinge 1 causes the partition G to normally rotate with the portion Bwhen the box A is opened, due to the fact that the pair of cars 11 gripthe pintle 10 under spring tension and causeit to rotate in the pair ofears 9. which freely engage the pintle, thus causing the partitionGwhose ear 12 is rigidly secured to the pintle to follow the cover. It isessentialthat the pair of cars formed integral with theportion O of thebox A only engage the pintle very freely to allow the peculiarconstruction of the hinge 1 to perform the functions desired to rotatethe portions B and G together when the box A is opened.

If it is desired to use the ash tray or ash compartment 22 which isformed by the cover 13, it is only necessary'to engage the projectingfree edge of the partition G, holding the cover B and the portion G ofthe box against rotation and rotating the partition G so as to lie inthe position illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is thus evident that the partition G will always rotate with thecover B unless the cover B is held against rotation.

lfhe match box A fulfils a long felt want for smokers and can beconveniently carried in the pocket always ready for use so that it isnot necessary for one having one of these match boxes to scatter theashes of his cigar or cigarette on the floor untidily but by placing hismatch box in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, he can use the cover Bfor an ash tray and empty the same at any convenient time or place. Itis also obvious that the match box with the extra compartment can beused for any other desirable feature as the user may desire.

Having described the principles of opera tion of my invention, togetherwith the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, I desire to.

have it understood that the construction is only illustrative and thatthe invention can be carried out by other means and applied to usesother than those above set forth within the scope of the followingclaims:

1. In a box having a cover and body portion, a partition in said box anda hinge for pivotally connecting said cover, body portion and partitiontogether, and frictional means in said hinge causing said partition torotate with said cover unless said partition is engaged and held againstrotation while said cover is being rotated.

2. In a box having a cover and body portion hinged together, aspringlike imperiorate division wall between said cover and body portionadapted to open said box when the box catch is released.

3. In a box comprising, two members, a partition in said box and meansfor freely pivoting and frictionally connecting said members andpartition together, to cause said partition to rotate with one of saidmembers unless it is held against rotation while said member is beingrotated.

4. In a box having a body, a cover and a division wall pivoted at -acommon point, said wall dividing said box into two compartments, lugsformed on said wall which are adapted to form holding means when saidbox is open, said wall forming a spring to open said box and tosimultaneously separate the free end of said wall from the cover of saidbox so that it can be easily engaged for the purposes specified.

5. In a box having a body, a cover and a division wall pivoted at acommon point, said division wall being curved to extend into said coverand means formed on the free end of said wall for preventing said freeend from enterin said body or lower portion of said box w ien the box isclosed or open for the purposes specified.

6. In a box having a body, a cover and a division wall pivoted at acommon point said division wall lying parallel to and in said cover whensaid box is closed and lugs formed on said wall which are adapted tospace said wall from said cover when said box is closed.

7. In a box having a cover and body portion hinged together, a divisionwall between said cover and body portion, said wall forming a spring toautomatically open said box when its holding catch is released, andmeans formed on said division wall for holding a cigar when said box isin open position.

8. In a device of the class described, having two portions and aseparating plate hinged together at a common point so as to hold saidseparating plate normally in one of said portions, frictional means insaid hinge for causing said plate to remain in contact with and followone of said por tions during the complete rotation of the same and lugsformed on said plate for engaging said portion so as to force the freeend of said plate out of said portion automatically when said device isopen to allow the free end of said plate to be en aged and held whilesaid portion is rotate 9. In a box having a cover and body portionpivotally connected by a hinge, a partition in said box rigidlyconnected to the pintle of said hinge, ears formed on said cover forengaging said pintle under spring tension and ears formed on said bodyportion for freely engaging said pintle, whereby said partition andcover are adapted to rotate together when said box is being opened.

FRANK J. KRISTOFEK.

